Of nombre, sayn these clerkes, that it is naturel somme of
discrete thinges, as in tellinge oon, two, three, and so forth;
but among al nombres, three is determined for moste certayn.
Wherfore in nombre certayn this werk of my besy leudenesse
5
I thinke to ende and parfourme. Ensample by this worlde, in
three tymes is devyded; of whiche the first is cleped †Deviacion,
that is to say, going out of trewe way; and al that tho dyeden, in
helle were they punisshed for a man[ne]s sinne, til grace and mercy
fette hem thence, and there ended the firste tyme. The seconde